Putin Trusted Shevardnadze, But He Shouldn’t Do

During the CIS summit in Chisinau Russia President Vladimir Putin was asked if he was sure that Georgia President Eduard Shevardnadze would keep his promise and extradite the detained Chechen terrorists to Russia. Vladimir Putin answered: “I think he will. This is the problem where it’s impossible to pretend that something is done to settle it. In this situation it’s obvious whether something is done or not.”
It is very likely that we will witness another scandal in the very last days of the year; this scandal is because of the Georgia president’s reluctance to extradite to Russia the Chechen terrorists detained on the Georgian territory. Thirteen armed Chechens were detained by the Georgian frontier guards on the Chechen sector of the Georgia-Russia border on the night of August 4; four of them were later extradited to Russia on October 4. According to the information provided by the Russian side, the people are members of the terrorist groups operating in Chechnya.

On December 16, Georgian Prosecutor’s Office made a decision to extradite the people to Russia. However, attorneys of the detained Chechens appealed to the Supreme Court against the decision. And Georgia’s Supreme Court allowed the appeal on December 25. And the circle is enclosed now.

Alexander Yakovenko, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry says: “It is perfectly obvious that the Chechen terrorists must be extradited to Russia; however, the problem is stifled with the endless juridical and law pettifoggery.” In his words, “this once again demonstrates that somehow or other, official Tbilisi indulges or plays into the hands of terrorists. This certainly contradicts the agreements reached in Chisinau by the presidents of both countries, Russia and Georgia.”

At the CIS summit in Chisinau, the Georgian leader promised Vladimir Putin that the Chechen terrorists detained on the Georgian territory would be very soon extradited to Russia. Journalists asked Vladimir Putin if he was sure that Georgia President Eduard Shevardnadze would keep his promise and extradite the detained Chechen terrorists to Russia. Vladimir Putin answered: “I think he will. This is the problem where it’s impossible to pretend that something is done to settle it. In this situation it’s obvious whether something is done or not.” There is no dilemma any more: Shevardnadze once again deceived Putin.

Meanwhile, unlike Georgia, Russia carries out its commitments. PRAVDA.Ru already reported that two Georgian men, Soso Toria, 45, and Vephvia Durglishvili, 38, had been detained in Chechnya. The people are incriminated in committing an attempt at Georgia president Eduard Shevardnadze on February 9, 1998, when a group of terrorists attacked the president’s motorcade. Two bodyguards of the president and one terrorist were killed in the accident.